part 7
by: soldier30 11/12/01 09:00 pm
Msg: 1298 of 1302
In our view, the initial data reported in the three ASH abstracts supports the
utility of the TCell-HDM system for use as a tool to decrease the occurrence of
GvHD and the use of the AlloMune System for the treatment of hematologic
cancers. In the first abstract, investigators examined the use of CD8 T-cell
depletion in an 18 patient study as a means to decrease the rate of GvHD in
patients receiving donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). Specifically, this
randomized trial examined the impact of CD8 T-cell depletion on GvHD and graft
versus tumor responses. Importantly, the results from the study indicate that
CD8 T-cell depletion reduces the incidence of GvHD associated with DLI without
compromising anti-tumor activity or immunologic recovery. We are encouraged by
the initial results reported and believe they support the use of
BioTransplant's TCell-HDM system in this therapeutic setting. Two additional
abstracts report results using a prototype AlloMune Systems for the treatment
of refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a 69 patient study and refractory
B cell lymphoma (BCL) in a 20 patient study.
In the NHL study, of 69 patients, 46 received a stem cell transplant (SCT) from
an HLA-matched donor, while 23 received an HLA-mismatched donor transplant.
Initial mixed chimerism (MC) was demonstrated in all evaluable patients.
Forty-nine patients maintained MC or converted to full donor chimerism (FDC).
Importantly, 17 of 49 (35%) patients who maintained donor chimerism achieved a
complete response (CR) or CR with residual radiologic abnormality compared with
four of 20 (20%) patients who lost donor chimerism.
The BCL study, evaluated non-myeloablative bone marrow transplantation in 20
patients with advanced BCL. The results indicate that 8 of 19 evaluable
patients achieved a response (5 CR, 3 PR) including 3 of 10 HLA matched
patients and 5 of 10 HLA mismatched patients. Additionally, five patients were
alive, and progression free at 13 to 52 months post-transplant. We are
encouraged by these preliminary results and believe they demonstrate the
utility of the AlloMune System as a method for the treatment of refractory
hematologic cancers. |
